Does anyone think Carmelo Anthony would look good in green?
Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge sure does. Or did. Maybe.
With the trade deadline in the NBA’s rear view, we’re left to reflect upon all the juicy rumors that are trickling out of the crevices of front offices but never came to fruition. There have already been a ton, and ESPN.com’s Ian Begley came bearing another one on Thursday: The Celtics tried trading for Melo.
Here’s the skinny:
Prior to the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics expressed interest in obtaining Anthony via a trade with the Knicks, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
It is unclear if there were any formal discussions between New York and Boston and if those discussions ever reached an advanced stage. But Boston was informed that Anthony had no desire to leave the Knicks via trade to play for the Celtics, sources say.
Melo has a no-trade clause, so if there were talks, he would have complete control over whether or not he went. And if the New York Knicks approached him about playing in Boston and he said no, he’s crazy. The Celtics are a legitimate up-and-coming team and, by the end of this season, may be the biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East—without Anthony. Think about what they could have done with him, especially if they were sending the Knicks the Brooklyn Nets’ 2016 first-rounder as a centerpiece rather than a bunch of key players.
There’s something admirable about Melo’s commitment to New York—specifically Kristaps Porzingis. But with the Knicks guaranteed to miss out on the playoffs for a third straight year, it’s likely the subject of trading Melo is broached again over the offseason. Boston may not be his end destination, but the Celtics could get a third team involved—the Los Angeles Clippers or Cavaliers, perhaps—and a blockbuster could form from there.
If the Knicks add a big name or two in free agency, this will be a moot issue. Melo won’t ask to leave a projected playoff team or championship contender. So the question for now is: Can the Knicks become a projected playoff team or championship contender over the offseason? And if not, will Carmelo Anthony consider severing the ties he has worked to hard to keep intact?
